A nurse is fighting for his life in hospital after becoming the first British victim of the ebola outbreak.

William Pooley, 29, was airlifted back to London after contracting the deadly virus while trying to save lives in Sierra Leone.

Despite the grave dangers, he had selflessly volunteered to serve in a makeshift clinic where other nurses had died from ebola or were too scared to come into work.

He was described as a 'remarkable young man' and a natural leader by an American scientist who worked at the same hospital in Kenema. 'He had taken on a very big role,' said Robert F Garry, a professor in microbiology at Tulane University in New Orleans. 'We've lost several other nurses including the head nurse who lost her battle against ebola.

'He was very well liked by all the nurses and had taken on a pivotal role. Some people are just marked out as leaders and he led the nurses. He was a very hard worker and they looked up to him.'

Mr Pooley last night arrived back to London in an isolation sack for treatment at the Royal Free Hospital in north London.

A nurse is fighting for his life in hospital after becoming the first British victim of the ebola outbreak.

William Pooley, 29, was airlifted back to London after contracting the deadly virus while trying to save lives in Sierra Leone.

Despite the grave dangers, he had selflessly volunteered to serve in a makeshift clinic where other nurses had died from ebola or were too scared to come into work.

He was described as a 'remarkable young man' and a natural leader by an American scientist who worked at the same hospital in Kenema. 'He had taken on a very big role,' said Robert F Garry, a professor in microbiology at Tulane University in New Orleans. 'We've lost several other nurses including the head nurse who lost her battle against ebola.

'He was very well liked by all the nurses and had taken on a pivotal role. Some people are just marked out as leaders and he led the nurses. He was a very hard worker and they looked up to him.'

Mr Pooley last night arrived back to London in an isolation sack for treatment at the Royal Free Hospital in north London.